We asked for this to be written in response to an email we had been sent arguing that there was no scientific basis to the assertion that gluten was something that could harm your health or hinder your weight loss efforts.

We had written a summary on this subject earlier this year, and it is great to have us continuing this discussion. In the summary we quoted another well known nutritionist, Dr. Alan Pressman who said this:

"Gluten is a protein, and it can be found in wheat, rye, and barley. Many people are allergic to it, and millions of people are sensitive to it. It can trigger all sorts of inflammatory responses in your intestinal track and entire body. It creates chronic inflammation throughout the body, and if you are sensitive or allergic to it can cause a 72 percent increased risk of death. That's pretty serious business."

This is an emerging area of scientific understanding, and we hope that by presenting these different views it will help you see if gluten is something that is effecting you personally.